Ilya Samsonov, a highly-touted prospect in the Capitals organization, is in the final year of a KHL contract he signed with Metallurg Magnitogorsk as a teenager. Tuesday morning, Sport-Express’s Igor Eronko reported General Manager Brian MacLellan is in Russia visiting Samsonov. The news was later confirmed by Isabelle Khurshudyan.

Rumors this morning circulated that Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan is in Russia negotiating a deal with Samsonov. Although negotiations at this point can be only verbal and if an agreement is reached no paperwork can be done until April 30th (due to an agreement between NHL and KHL) when Caps prospect becomes a free agent in KHL, things seem to be progressing and won’t be long till we hear a definitive information that an agreement has been reached.

A KHL source has suggested that both sides aren’t far off and MacLellan is doing his best to assure Samsonov will get whatever he deserves just to move over as early as next season. There is also a belief amongst people that Philip Grubauer is playing his final season with the Capitals.

In a statement, Metallurg Magnitogorsk said this to Kalnins.

They are negotiating and trying to reach a mutual agreement. That is all they can and have been doing until Samsonov is no longer a member of Metallurg Magnitogorsk